Joint for electric conductors.



No. 806,789. PATBNTBD DEO. 1'2, 1905. A. T `IEI.GER.V

. JOINT FR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MYAYS, 1905.

Wilwmw:

III'IFD STATES FATENI oFFIoE.

Aus-TIN FLEEGEE, oF cHICoRA, PENNSYLVANIA. LJOINT Fon ELCTRlC coNDucToRs,l

To @ZZ whom, it wwf/y concern.

Be it known that I, AUSTIN FLEEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicora, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joints for Electric Con ductors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to joints for electric conductors, and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive oint for the meeting ends of such conductors, which joint may be readily and quickly formed or applied at a minimum of expense and which will not only firmly unite and hold said meeting ends, but alsoimprove the conductivity of the joint by avoiding undue resistance and lossof current.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a joint embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the sleeve or ferrule in longitudinal sec tion. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form. Fig. 4 is a similar view of another modification, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of yet another modification.

In the form of my inventicnshown in Figs. l and 2 the two wires to be united are indicated, respectively, by the reference-numerals 1 and 2. The extremities of these two wires are intertwisted, as indicated at 3, thereby increasing the diameter of the end portion of each wire and at the same time forming two interlocked coils, which will prevent longitudinal motion of the two wires relatively to each other in either direction. It will be observed in this connection that the straight portions of the wires 1 and 2 are in alinement with each other and that the coiling of the end portions of each wire around the straight portion of the other wire may be dispensed with, as shown in the drawings. 4 indicates a sleeve of conducting material sufficiently ductile to permit of its being swaged, preference being given to copper, brass, or some similar metal or alloy. This sleeve has originally the form of a hollow cylinder or tube of equal diameter throughout, such diameter being great enough to permit it to be slipped over the enlarged ends of the wires. Said sleeve will be slipped over one of the wires Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationfiled May 3, 1905.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Serial No. 258,716-

before the ends are intercoiled or intertwisted, and after said ends have been brought to the desired condition `the sleeve is slipped over the joint or enlarged parts, and the ends of-said sleeve lying beyond the enlarged parts are reduced in diameter by a swaging process, as indicated at 5, until they tightly grip and firmly hold the straight portions of the wires 1 and 2, lying adjacent to the enlarged portions of said wires. The annular shoulders 6 thus formed at each end of the sleeve in the interior thereof serve as abutments for the enlarged portions of the wires vand will absolutely prevent any movement of said wires relatively to each other which will tend to separate them in the direction of their length, thus adapting the oint to successfully resist severe longitudinal strains on the conductor. It will be seen that the entire joint is inclosed by the sleeve in such a way as to protect it from the weather and its deteriorating influences, while the grip of the ends of the sleeve upon the wires is so iirm and their contact therewith so intimate that a permanent joint of high conductivity results, effectually avoiding undue resistance and loss of current and at the same time presenting a practically smooth and uniform exterior. At the same time all soldering is done away with. I prefer to interlock, as well as enlarge, the meeting ends of the wires, and the intertwisting of said ends or forming them into interlocked coils, as shown in Fig. 2, is a desirable construction for that end. Other means for interlocking the said ends may be employed, however, and in Fig. 3 I have shown a construction in which the wires (here indicated by the reference-numerals 7 and 8 (are provided at their ends with hooks 9 and 10, which are engaged with each other in the manner shown. In this case the sleeve (indicated' by the reference-numeral 11) may be somewhat shorter, its ends 12 being swaged down to grip the wires on each side of the en larged portions formed by the hooks in the manner already described. It is not essential to my invention in its broadest form, however, that the ends of the wires should be interlocked, as well as enlarged, and under manyconditions it is sufficient to merely enlar e the ends of the wires which are included witIiin the body of the sleeve. One form of construction embodying this feature is shown in Fig. 4, in which the wires (here indicated by the numerals 13 and 14) have their ends enlarged by swaging or some similar process,

IOO

as indicated at 15. Here again the sleeve (indicated by the numeral 16) may be comparatively short, being swaged down at 17 to firmly grip the wires on each side of the en largements 15. The internal shoulders 18 in this case prevent longitudinal separation of the wires, while the abutting of their ends against each other prevents relative motion o the Wires in the opposite direction. Of course the enlargement of the ends of the wires may be eiected in any suitable manner, and .in Fig. 5 I have shown a construction in which the wires (here indicated by the numerals 19 and 20) have the terminal 'enlargements 21 formedby doubling or bending over the extremities. The sleeve construction in this case is identical with what is shown in Fig. 3.

l do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, as it is obvious that these details may be modified without de parting from the principle of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A joint for electric conducting-wires, comprising alined wires provided with en# larged terminal portions, and a sleeve of ductile conducting material inclosing said enlarged portions, extending beyond the same, and having its extremities swaged down so as to firmly grip the straight portions of the wires and present continuous internal annular shoulders forming abutments which resist longitudinal separating movements of said wires, substantially as described.

2. A joint for electric conducting-wires, comprising alined wires provided with enlarged and interlocked terminal portions, and a sleeve of ductile conducting material inclosingsaid enlarged portions, extending beyond the same, and having its extremities swaged .down so as to firmly grip the straight portions of the wires and present continuous in* ternal annular shoulders Jforming abutments which resist longitudinal separating movements of saidwires, substantially as described.

3. A joint for electric conducting-wires, comprising alined wires provided with enlarged and interlocked terminal portions, and a sleeve of ductile conducting material inclosing said enlarged portions, extending beyond the same, and having its extremities swaged down so as to firmly grip the straight portions of the wires and present continuous internal annular shoulders forming abutments which resist longitudinal separating movements of said wires, the ends of said wires being intertwisted to form interlocked coils, whereby the enlargement and interlocking of said ends is accomplished, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN FLEEGER. Witnesses: Y

Tnos. F. HARVEY, J. C. GAIsFoRD. 

